Tomatin 15 Year 43% (Discontinued)

This was a fortunate discovery, given it was discontinued around ten years ago, based on my research. The 12 and 18 year expressions were both good, and before trying the 14, I'm sampling its predecessor. Let's see what it's like. Aroma: Honey, caramel, toffee, and vanilla. Apple, pear, and apricot. White grape. Golden raisin. Orange zest and floral notes. Butterscotch. Toasted almond and macadamia nut. Sugar cookie. Mocha. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Palate: More apple, pear, and apricot. Vanilla, caramel, toffee, and honey. White grape and golden raisin. Hints of white chocolate. Orange zest. Sugar cookie. Almond and macadamia. Butterscotch and malt. Almond butter. Finish: Prominent malt. Orange zest. Vanilla, toffee, caramel, and honey. Butterscotch and malt. Apple, pear, apricot, white grape, and golden raisin. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. A moderate length. Overall, this is quite good. I'm certainly pleased I managed to get a bottle. It's consistently good from start to finish. The issue is that it doesn't quite distinguish itself. Both the 12 and 18 had more impact and greater flavor depth. This one was a bit too clean and subtle. I initially rated this 3.5 before considering value. I paid $100, the same as for the 18-year bottle from the same shop. The price was likely inflated for this one due to its rarity. Perhaps I could have found it for closer to $70 when it was still available, and it would have been a good value. However, at $100, I've deducted a quarter star. A score of 3.25 is still quite respectable. Good, but not exceptional.

Appearance: This 15-year-old Scottish whisky has a pale straw or white corn color. It's unusually light for its age, suggesting no artificial coloring was added, though the distillery's website doesn't confirm this. The legs in my glass are very thin and watery. Aroma: The initial impression is very fruity, with notes of pear, green grapes, and pineapple, alongside salty brine, light peat smoke, and pine needles. Adding a splash of water makes the aroma more, and I'd say excessively, floral. Taste: The palate presents sweet notes of orange, dry red wine, red apples, and salted almonds. With a splash of water, other flavors blend into notes of honey and Sweetarts candy. Finish: A medium-long finish with an orange citrus aftertaste and a noticeable bite before water is added. Thoughts: This was a delightful and remarkably approachable dram! I appreciated the 43% ABV; I think Tomatin made an excellent choice there. I wouldn't recommend adding water, as it diminished the subtle nuances of other flavors. For anyone seeking an easy-drinking dram that isn't challenging, this is it! (If you can find it, as it's unfortunately discontinued.) Thank you, Tomatin, friends! Cheers!

One of the difficulties of living in a small town now is the absence of a place like my former bar in Chicago—a vast whiskey selection, affordable tasting pours of anything available, and knowledgeable, passionate bartenders. It's harder to find that here, but it's much easier to stumble upon forgotten treasures like this in small liquor stores. In Chicago, this likely sold out years ago, but here it sat on the shelf for $40, unnoticed. Until I found it and bought it immediately, because discontinued whiskies at a great price are rare finds. It's a shame this is no longer produced, as it might be the best Tomatin I've encountered. While it shares the sweet, grain-forward character of the Dualchas/Legacy and the 12 Year, it also has an added bright fruitiness and a lightly sherry-influenced finish. The 14 Year, which replaced it, is good but noticeably less complex. If you see it on a dusty store shelf, grab it quickly!

I sampled the Tomatin 14-Year Portwood, not the 15-Year. The whisky is described as the 'softer side of the highlands.' The aroma has hints of honey, melon, and apple pie. The taste features dry nuts and sweet dried fruits, with subtle notes of apricot and plum.

The aroma was odd, smoky perhaps, I couldn't discern anything else. The taste had some harshness with smoke/char, citrus, and caramel, possibly malt. I prefer the 12 or 18 year old versions.

Unsatisfying. The nose lacks distinction and the taste is quite light. Perhaps my palate is off, but I anticipated more.